The Jerusalem Prize for Israeli Unity, an apolitical initiative established by the families of the three young men Gil-Ad Michael Shaar, Yaakov Naftali Frankel, and the late Eyal Yifrach, will be awarded at a ceremony that will be held as every year at the President's House in the presence of the President of the State, public figures, and opinion leaders on Sunday, the 8th of Sivan 5775, 05.24.2026.
Over 250 organizations, initiatives, educational institutions and local authorities from Israel and around the world submitted nominations for the award, and this week the winners for 2026 were announced - entities and individuals working to strengthen unity, partnership and cohesion in Israeli society and world Jewry.
The Jerusalem Prize for Unity was born out of the sense of mutual responsibility that enveloped Israeli society and world Jewry during the days of the kidnapping of the three boys, and its goal is to highlight and honor initiatives that connect different communities, sectors, and identities.
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In the local authority category, the Municipality of Eilat won, working to strengthen unity and mutual support by absorbing tens of thousands of evacuees and creating connections between diverse communities in the city. Through resilience programs and numerous social initiatives, the Municipality makes partnership and mutual assistance an integral part of the daily lives of its residents.
The national category was won by the Jewish Scouts, a long-standing educational framework that combines religious and secular youth in joint activities in mixed tribes, trips, and service year communes. In doing so, it creates a model of shared life based on broad Jewish identity and mutual respect.
In the local category, the project "Brit Negev and the Mountain" won - a civic initiative that connects residents of the Western Negev with residents of Gush Etzion through in-depth meetings, joint tours, and field initiatives, with the aim of building a bridge of trust and dialogue between communities that are ideologically distant from each other.
In the international category, the Strauss-Amiel Institute won - it trains and accompanies spiritual and educational leadership for missions in Jewish communities in the Diaspora, and through hundreds of missions, strengthens Jewish identity and the connection to Israel, while creating connections between Jewish movements and communities around the world.
In the education category, the winner was Midreshet HaShiluv Natur - which operates a Beit Midrash that combines religious and secular students in sacred and secular studies and in-depth human encounters, and fosters a shared Jewish-Israeli identity based on listening and respect for a diversity of opinions.
Alongside the winners, certificates of appreciation will also be awarded this year to individuals working to promote unity in Israel:
This year, Unity Day marks its continued establishment as a national day on the national calendar, with hundreds of events to be held in the Knesset, the government, the education system, the IDF, and local authorities, alongside community initiatives in Israel and around the world, which seek to remind us that unity is not a slogan, but a daily choice in encounter, listening, and partnership.
Bat Galim Shaar, founder and CEO of the Unity Day Association - In Memory of the Three Boys, said: "Precisely at a time when the divisions sometimes seem deeper than ever, the organizations and individuals who choose to act differently stand out. To build bridges, create dialogue and believe in the power of connection. Giving this award is an opportunity to shine a light on this work and to say in a clear voice: There are tremendous forces of unity in Israel and the Jewish people, and they are here to stay.".
